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Specialist Qualification in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) Grad Dip

London, Bloomsbury

The Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) trains students to become Qualified Habilitation Specialists. An interim award, the Graduate Certificate in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight, trains students to become Qualified Habilitation Assistants. They will learn how to support, plan, carry out, supervise and evaluate the habilitation skills of children and young people (aged 0-25 years) with vision impairment(s) in home, public and educational settings.

Important notice

Please note that the UCL graduate application portal will be unavailable from 5pm on Thursday 8th December until 10am Monday 12th December. Disruption may occur outside of these anticipated times. Applications through other institutions should remain unaffected. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this interruption of service.

UK students International students

Study mode

Part-time

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£8,100

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£13,800

Duration

2 academic years

Programme starts

September 2023

Applications accepted

All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

First degree or a minimum qualification equivalent to QCF Level 4 plus extensive relevant work experience.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting October.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

You will be provided with the opportunity to benefit from our established links with Habilitation VI UK (formerly MISE UK). You will obtain a qualification that matches the Quality Standards-based registration requirements for habilitation practitioners in the UK. You will work with eminent practitioners in the field of vision impairment, gaining experience of working in a variety of habilitation settings and environments. You will also benefit from learning from other related professionals in the multi-disciplinary, collaborative field of habilitation.

Who this course is for

This programme is suited to people who want to become habilitation specialists, directing and implementing mobility and independence work with children and young people from birth to 25 years who are blind or visually impaired and may have other needs.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme has been matched against the National Occupational Standards for Sensory Services of the CWDC (2009), and the Quality Standards for Habilitation (Second Edition; Hayton & Wood, 2022). The programme has been developed with the support of the DfE, RNIB and Habilitation VI UK. It takes trainees from the basics of habilitation up to the standard needed for registration as an Habilitation Specialist with Habilitation VI UK.

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma, followed by a probationary year, is a registration requirement of the UK Habilitation Professional Body.

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate (interim award), followed by a probationary year, is a registration requirement for Qualified Habilitation Assistants of the UK Habilitation Professional Body.

More info: Habilitation VI UK website

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates of this programme work across agencies such as local authorities, schools, and charities to support and develop the habilitation (mobility, orientation and independence) of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted. Graduates of the course, mentor current students and offer placements to support practical and professional development.

Employability

You will learn the standardised and adapted practical skills techniques suitable for delivering habilitation practice with children and young people with vision impairment aged 0-25 years. You will learn and develop problem-solving techniques and develop your creativity in the teaching and delivery of habilitation programmes. You will learn how theory and practice are tightly connected and how research can inform the development of practical techniques. You will learn how legislation informs provisional arrangements and how to support and advise settings on 'Best Practice'.

You will develop and refine your skills relative to supporting children and young people with vision impairment aged 0-25 years, in addition to strategies to support and collaborate with parents and caregivers as partners in the habilitation programme. You will be equipped with the baseline skills and competencies required in the profession to deliver habilitation programmes involving children and young people with vision impairment aged 0-25 years.

You will learn how to manage your caseload and how to differentiate your teaching to individualised and bespoke needs. Graduates of the programme are currently working as Qualified Habilitation Assistants, Qualified Habilitation Professionals and Heads of Service. Graduates work in local authorities for sensory services, consortia or sensory impairment services for national and local visual and sensory impairment-related charities.

Accreditation

The Graduate Diploma in Habilitation has been accredited by HABVIUK as meeting the professional competencies required for Qualified Habilitation Assistants (for exit after year 1) and Qualified Habilitation Specialists (for full course completion). Registration for HABVIUK is subject to a 1 year probationary period after completing the Graduate Diploma.

Teaching and learning

Both face-to-face and virtual learning environment elements will inform the pattern of teaching on the programme. t is assessed by written assessments, coursework assignments, practical skill assessments, skill observations, self-videoed practical assessment activities, presentations, placements, and a portfolio which is matched against the Quality Standards for Habilitation Work with Children and Young People (2011; 2022).

For teaching and learning, teaching blocks equate to 160 hours per year; split between lectures, practical skills and independent study time. Four 20 minute compulsory tutorials are offered over the year (more if required), and these can be used for both academic and pastoral tutorials. A minimum of half a day (4 hours) per week, outside of university contact time, is recommended for personal study. This is to be negotiated between the student and their employer, in the first instance. Please note that these hours do not include practical skills assessments or assignment write-up.

Modules

: You will study policy and practice for habilitation in your first year and how these relate to educational contexts, such as mainstream and specialist schools. You will receive practical skills tutoring in sighted guide and pre-cane skills, which you are encouraged to practice in your employment setting under the guidance and supervision of your employer. Your second year of study builds on the skills learned in the first year, but increases focus on long-cane skills, habilitation at home, in public settings and during transitions (characteristic of the Habilitation Specialist Role). In the second year of study, you are also required to complete an integrated assessed 'Extended Training Placement' in a setting different to your 'home' setting, in order to maximise your range of experience as a practitioner. The practical skills training combined with the academic content prepares you for your role as Habilitation Professionals in the Service Setting. The 2-year programme demonstrates the importance of linking theory to practice.

Compulsory modules

Policy and Practice in Habilitation Studies

Habilitation in Educational Contexts and the Extended Curriculum

Habilitation at Home, in Public Contexts and During Transitions

Habilitation, Professional Practices and the Service Setting: The Extended Assessed Placement

Habilitation in Practice: Sighted Guide and Pre-Cane Skills

Habilitation in Practice: Long Cane Skills

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits and are governed by the IOE fitness to practice guidance. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, practical skills assessments, and a satisfactory outcome of the 20-day minimum integrated, assessed, Extended Training Placement, you will be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People).

Placement

The second year of the programmer involves an extended training/teaching placement. This is usually in a setting different to a student's typical working context.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£8,100
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£13,800

Additional costs

Students will likely incur additional costs for transport to and from some training areas in both years of study. Students will be notified of this ahead of time. The estimated cost is that of an off-peak travel card/daily Oyster card fare according to Transport for London (TFL).

This programme requires an enhanced DBS check prior enrolment. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme. DBS checks are carried out via Atlantic Data and ID verification will need to be arranged with the Student Enquiries Centre. The offer holder is also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary - costs vary by country. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the Admissions team.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) at graduate level
why you want to study Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) at UCL
what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

In some exceptional cases, students may not have Level 4 qualifications or a first degree (note: not the classification 'first' but an initial degree). If the applicant has extensive work experience (over 5 years) in the field of vision impairment, habilitation, working in settings with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, we would consider these applications. It is essential that the personal statement reflects these extensive skills and experiences and referees are chosen to support this. These applications will be considered toward the end of the application window, where a statement in support of the application will be made by the Programme Leader, and will be sent to the Dean of Students for consideration. Please note, these places are limited.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.